Boat



. Jilly 10, 1945.

F. P. CORTESE BOAT Fil ed Aug. so, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 By I M Attorney July '10, 1945. v P, ORTESE 2,380,220

BOAT

Filed Aug. 30, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 10, 1945. I F. P. CORTESE BOAT Filed Aug. 30, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor I fia/rbesco j? 'orfeae By EA Attorney Patented July 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOAT 3 Francesco P. Cortese, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 30, 1941, Serial No. 409,092

1 Claim. (01. 114-16) My invention relates to improvements in boats of the submersible type.

The principal object of the invention is to' provide a practical, efficient boat for quick maneuvering in partially submerged condition andespecially equipped for detection and destruction of submarine mines and vessels.

Another object is to provide a boat for the purposes above set forth which is safe and provided with quick operating means for submerging the same completely or partially.

Other and subordinate objects are alsocom- I Figure 5 is view in transverse'section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 and drawn to an enlarged scale, I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section taken on the line 66 of Figure 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 7 is a, view in transverse section taken onthe line 'I--'I of Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of one of the air bags.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, in the illustrated embodiment thereof, my improved boat, or craft, comprises a substantially ellipsoidal, or cigar, shaped hull I of steel having a flat keel 2 depending therefrom below the bottom of the same. depends from thestern of the hull.

At the bottom of the hull I is a horizontal deck :1. A pair of front and rear vertical, transverse partitions 5, E arise from the deck 4 inter, mediate the transverse center of the hull I and the prow and stern of the same, respectively. An upper deck 1 extending between the partitions 5, 6 forms therewith, in the upper portion of the hull I, a combined observation and armament chamber 8, open at its front end into the forward part of the hull. I

At the highest point in the top of the hull I and in the transverse and longitudinal center of 1 e same is an upstanding, circular well form- A suitably mounted rudder 3 ing an entrance manhole 9 which constitutes the sole entrance to the hull I. A suitable closure It is provided in the manhole 9 adapted for opening at will to admit air to the chamber 8 and forming a seal in the manhole when closed. Adjacent the partition 6 is a third transverse partition II extending between decks 4 and I. A horizontal mid-deck I2 extends from partition iI rearwardly and beyond partition 6 in substantially the horizontal center of the hull I and from which rises i the stern portion of the hull I an upper platform I3 upon which ar mounted a battery of torpedo tubes I4 opening rearwardly out of the hull I and equipped with suitable water-tight caps I5. The space defined by the partition 6, deck I2 and platform I3 provides an upper rear torpedo room in the hull I.

A flight of steps I I leads from the rear end of the deck 4 to a bath I5 formed by a pair of vertical transverse partitions I6, II located below the deck I2, the partition I6 forming with the deck I2, partition 6, deck 4, and steps I4 a foodstorage chamber I8. I

A horizontal deck I9 exte ds from the partition I'I rearwardly below the deck I2 and platform I3 and provides .therewith a sleeping chamber 29 in the rear of the bath I5. The deck [9 forms, together with the steps I4 and deck 4, a power plant compartment 2| injthe bottom of the hull I. The partitions 6 and il, together with the decks 4, I2, and vertical longitudinal partitions 22 (see Fig. 5) form a rear motor chamber 23 directly above the chamber 2|, and said partitions 4, I2, together with the deck I form a general utility chamber 24 above the chambers 23.

Forwardly of the partition I I, a short vertical, transverse partition 25, and a mid-deck 26 form together with the partition 5 and the deck 4 a" front motor chamber 2'? for a purpose presently seen.

, Intermediate the partitions II and 25 is a well 28 from which a ladder 29 leads to the beforementioned combined observation and armament chamber 8. v

In front of the partition 5 and spaced forwardly thereof is a, platform structure 30 similar ,to platform I3 mounting a battery of torpedo tubes 3I in the upper front portion of the prow of the boat opening forwardly through the hull I and, provided with closure caps 32 similar to caps I5. I

The platform structure 30, togetherwithavertical partition 33 therein, and horizontal platforms 34, 35 form in the prow an ammunition chamber 36 and a tool compartment 31. A pair of steps 38 lead to the compartment 36 and another pair 39 from the compartment 36 to the compartment 31. v

For propelling the boat, a battery of propellers 46 is provided at the stern of the hull I, there being, preferably, a pair of forward propellers upon opposite sides of the keel 2, a second similarly arranged pair trailing the first pair and spaced closer together, and a third rearmost propeller in the line of the keel 2. The propellers 40 are suitably mounted upon propeller sh'afts 4I extending into the compartment 2| and to which motors 42 are operatively connected in any suitable manner to drive the same independently, the motors being arranged in the compartment 2I.

Returning now to the combined-observation and armament chamber 8, suitably mounted rigidly in the top of the hull I in front of the manhole 9 is a pair of forward sighting telescope tubes 43 extending parallel upon opposite sides of .the longitudinal center of the huh I and inclining upwardly and forwardly out of the chamber 8, the tubes being suitably sealed around the hull I. Similarly mounted in the hull I in the rear of the manhole 9 is another pair of rearwardly sighting telescope tubes 44 inclining upwardly and rearwardly out of said chamber 8.

Forwardly of the forward sighting telescopes 43, and suitably mounted in the chamber 8 is a battery of cannon 45 spaced forwardly in pairs to fire at different angles through portholes 46 provided in the top of the hull I, there being a rear pair of portholes spaced wide apart laterally and two front pairs similarly spaced apart but closer together than the first-mentioned pair, the portholes in said pairs being upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the hull I. Rearwardly-of the manhole 9 is 'a similar battery of cannonfl also mounted in the chamber 8 to fire through portholes 48 arranged inthe hull 'I similarly to portholes 46, there being, in this instance, a front pair 'of widely spaced portholes and two'rear pairs more closely spaced all as best shown in Figure 1.

At "suitable points in the longitudinal center I of. the hull are top glassed-in sight openings 49 spaced along the hull for visibility when the craft is partly submerged and of the water above.

, It has been previously stated that the manhole 9 .is, the sole entrance to the hull I. Obviously, said manhole 9 may be used to admit air into the hull I. However, additional ventilating means is provided for this purpose comprising a pair of front and rear ventilating'nozzles 56, 5| fixed in the top of the hull I in the longitudinal center thereof and above the chamber 8. Suitable apiparatus 52, 53 is provided in the front and rear motor chambers 21, 23, respectively, and connected by pipe lines 54, 55 to said nozzles 50, 5|, respectively, for creating suction and compression to said nozzles to take in an exhaust air from the hull I. The apparatus 52, 53 embody front and rear air compressors 56, 51, respectively, the front compressor being located in the space between the partitions, 5 and 3, which space serves as a compartment for numerous ancillary units such as rei'rigeratorcoils 58, motor 59 for operating a, refrigeration system, and a control box 60 for the system, all of which need merely be mentioned in'passing. The function of the air compressors 56, 51 will presently appear.

For raising the huh I in" the water, a pair of elongatedfront air bags 6| are suitably secured "upon opposite sides thereof, forwardly of the '62 on the adjacent side of said hull.

transverse center of the hull and above the horizontal center thereof, said bags extending lengthwise longitudinally of said hull. A similar pair of rear air bags 62 are similarly arranged upon opposite sides of the hull I in the rear of the transverse center of the latter and at thesame level as the bags 6I, said pairs being spaced apart and the bags on each side being connected together by longitudinal stays 63. The air bags BI, 62 are designed to be inflated and deflated as follows:

A pair of pressure lines 64 are extended along opposite sides of the hull I, in the upper portion thereof and are connected by branch lines 65 to the before mentioned air compressors 56, 51, the lines 64 on each side of the hull I being connected by laterals, as at 66, to the air bags 6|, Valved pressure-relief branch lines 61 extend from the pressure lines 64 through the sides of the hull I above the air bags GI, 62. Each pressure line is provided, in the space between the partitions II, 25, with a pressure control valve 61'.

The air bags 6I, 62 are surmounted by laterally extending stabilizing, flat fins 68 suitably attached to the sides of the hull I to prevent rolling thereof, and the ends of said air bags are protected by suitable conical shields 59 formed on the ends of the fins and fitting against adjacent ends of the air bags to form noses therefor.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 6 and '7, each of the portholes 46, 48 and the nozzles 50, 5I are provided with a covering and closing means comprising a cover plate 10 of any suitable material and adapted to seal the same from the outside and which is carried by one end of a rack bar II slidably mounted on top or the hull I in a housing I2 fast on said hull and sealed thereto, the arrangement being such that endwise movement of the rack bar in opposite directions, respectively, will move the cover plate 10 into and from covering relation to the porthole, or nozzle, as the case may be. Suitably mounted in the hull I to extend therethrough and mesh with each rack bar II is a gear pinion, as at I3, operative by a crank I4 extending into the chamber 8 for manipulation to lock the pinion I3.

For visibility through the hull I, when submerged, to sight floating and other type mines, and submarines, glassed-in sight openings I5 are provided in the bottom of the hull I upon opposite sides of the same. A

The chamber Sfbeneath the telescopes 43, 44 is equipped with an observers seat 16 and a suitable 55 chart 11 for plotting location of mines and submarines.

The well 28 is equipped with navigators benches "18 and table, I9, a steeringwheel 80, hydrographic and compass boards BI, 82, periscope 83 for downward vision through the water, and other adjuncts for use in sighting and navigating such as light reflector 84 and telescope B5.

A pair of suspension rings 86 are provided in the top of the hull I adjacent opposite ends thereof for hitching block and tackle thereto to lift the hull I out of thewater.

' 'The'use and operation of the described boat,

or craft, will be readily understood. The entire boat and installation is designed so that normally the hull, when loaded, will be submerged in water with only the manhole 9 awash so that the craft ,is practically invisible and may pursue its course Jinmi'ne and submarine sighting and destroying laterally through the water by way of sight openings 15, also downwardly by way of periscope 83 and telescope 85. When it is desired to raise the hull I out of the water for firing torpedo tubes 3|, M or cannons 45, 41, the air bags 61, 62 may be inflated to the appropriate degree in a manner which will be clear from the foregoing description, and then deflated through operation of the relief valves 6! when it is desired to resume normal navigation below the surface. The appropriate manholes 4B, 48 through which it is desired to fire may be uncovered by means of the described covering and closing means and by merely operating the appropriate crank 14 as will be clear. It is, of course, to be understood, that the nozzles 50, 5| may be covered, or uncovered, as the case may require, to admit air and exhaust the same from the hull I when the latter is elevated sufiiciently out'of the water. Also the manhole 9 may be opened to admit air into the hull I when desired. By virtue of the independently operative propellers 40 the hull I may be easily and quickly as at 81. The caps I5, 32 are designed to be opened by suitably arranged controls 88 of the usual well-known type.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

A boat of the class described comprising an ellipsoida1 hull adapted to be submerged in the water, and means to elevate said hull comprising exterior pneumatic devices upon opposite sides of the hull, respectively, adapted for inflation and deflation, and means in said hull to inflate and deflate said devices at will, said devices comprising air bags, and rigid fins extending laterally from said hull over said air bags, respectively, to provide a backing therefor preventing deformation of the same, said fins having conical end shields depending therefrom and fitting against ends of said air bags to form noses therefor.

FRANCESCO P. CORTESE. 

